DirectView gets order from Beneficial Holdings
BOCA RATON -- DirectView Inc. a full-service provider of videoconferencing technologies and services, has announced they have received an order from Beneficial Holdings Inc. They plan on using the equipment to contact their clients and manufacturing facilities, Integrated Biopharma.

Looking back at high school: Oh, those good old years
I never thought I'd refer to high school as the good ol' years. In fact, when I was trapped inside those four tedious years, I by no means thought I'd actually graduate. I was sure I would be struck by a bus or train, or plummet to my death in the cabin of an airplane before graduation day June 2002.

Businesswomen's seminar planned in Palm Coast
Business and Professional Women (BPW) of Flagler County is again hosting its annual seminar from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 16 at Grandhaven Golf Club, 500 Riverfront Drive, Palm Coast.

PV Woman's Club entertainment is 'Outta Sight'
Ponte Vedra Woman's Club welcomed the musical group Outta Sight at a recent club meeting. Members of the group are students and instructions from the blind department, Florida School for the Deaf and Blind.

Club Notes
Read about news and upcoming events from St. Augustines clubs.

Should he stay in England or come to Hollywood?
HOLLYWOOD -- The morning of the day he was to return home to England, James Nesbitt sat smoking in the patio of a Sunset Strip hotel, hung over but with his moss-green eyes still piercingly clear, and considered the newest phase of what he calls his "absurdly lucky" career.

Skin care sans chemicals isn't possible
I recently read an article about infant skincare, which advised that sunscreen not be applied to infants until they're 6 months of age because the chemicals are absorbed by their skin and go into their bloodstream. This got me thinking about my own sunscreen lotion and the chemicals my skin is absorbing.

Stylishly toasty
When you think of a down coat, what's the first thing that comes to mind? Warmth? Coziness? A profile resembling the Michelin Man?

Dr. Donohue: Aneurysm size determines the treatment
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: I have an abdominal aortic aneurysm. In January 2004, it was 3.9 centimeters. I had an ultrasound last week, and it was the same size. My doctor said he'll check me again, but that if I don't feel right, I should get to a hospital ASAP. Can you be more specific about this? -- N.O.

Giant pearl tied to death, family fights
DENVER -- Legend has it the so-called Pearl of Allah was created as a symbol of peace 2,500 years ago in ancient China. To Victor Barbish, the 14-pound gem has been nothing but a big headache.

Freezing rain, sleet shuts down highways and flights in Southeast
ATLANTA -- Freezing rain and sleet coated parts of the Southeast with a layer of ice Saturday, canceling hundreds of airline flights, knocking out power to thousands of customers and shutting down sections of every interstate highway in the metro Atlanta area.

Karaoke gets venues in trouble
DALLAS -- The next time you see someone jump onstage at a karaoke bar and belt out a tune, keep in mind you could be watching an illegal act. And it wouldn't be the singing.

Correction
WRONG LOCATION -- The dateline about a story that ran on A1 Saturday about a fire at Sea Market Seafood & Restaurant read "St. Augustine Beach," but the restaurant is outside St. Augustine Beach city limits.

Most dangerous intersections identified
They share piles of traffic, plenty of speeders and drivers who run red lights. U.S. 1 and State Road 16 carry the distinction of having the most serious crashes in St. Johns County.

City finds its voice after years of repression
NAJAF, Iraq -- Near the tomb of Sayed Mohammed Bakr al Hakim, the man who co-founded Iraq's political opposition movement, his widow and son with one simple act turned the work that cost Hakim his life into a political triumph.

Today in History
On Jan. 30, 1968, during the Vietnam War, the Tet Offensive began as Communist forces launched surprise attacks against South Vietnamese provincial capitals.

Corrections
Wrong street -- An article in Sunday's newspaper gave the incorrect address of an auto accident Saturday monring that injured four, including Kandice Williams, 17, of Elkton. The crash took place on County Road 204.

Osprey names narrowed down
The entries are in. Ten names were selected. Now it's time to vote for the Mickler-O'Connell Bridge osprey's name.

Violence kills two Americans in Iraq
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- A rocket struck the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad late Saturday, killing two Americans and wounding five others despite a strict lockdown by U.S. and Iraqi forces across much of the country on the anxious eve of Iraq's landmark national elections.

For the Record
Effective today, the intersection of D. Beck Road and Kelly Road in Hastings will be closed. This closure will remain in effect from today through Thursday at 5 p.m. This closure is so that Road & Bridge can replace the cross culverts at that intersection. Follow detour signs as posted and plan your route accordingly. For information, call the Road & Bridge office at 823-2660.

Homeless being shuffled around for Super Bowl
Raman Lucas sat with friends outside the St. Francis House Saturday afternoon. He said he hasn't been asked to leave anywhere and is just trying to get through the pain and anguish of the daily struggle.

For The Record
Developers will hold a community meeting to discuss a proposed, 50-home project in Northwest St. Johns County.

Bartram Trail teens ready to perform
NORTHWEST ST. JOHNS COUNTY -- They could be dancing. They could be marching. They could be singing. They don't know exactly what they will be doing, but they're excited about it.

Four injured in C.R. 210 crash
Four people were injured in a crash on County Road 210, about five miles west of U.S. 1 on Saturday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

John Herman Bauer
John Herman Bauer, 71 of St Augustine, died Jan. 29, 2005 at Moultrie Creek Nursing and Rehab Center. He was born in Miami and had resided in St Augustine since 1964. He served in the U.S. Army. He started and was director of the 911 Emergency System for St Johns County. He was a member of San Sebastian Catholic Church.

Hattie Lois Wainright
Hattie Lois Wainright, 86, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 29, 2005 at home surrounded by her children and grandchildren. She always shared her kindness and love with everyone. Mrs. Wainright was born on April 15, 1918 in Colleton County, S.C. and moved to St. Augustine in 1930. She graduated from Ketterlinus High School in 1939. Mrs. Wainright's late husband, Ion, owned and operated Ginty Plumbing and Heating for many years.

David Ruel Simboli
David Ruel Simboli, 86, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 27, 2005, at his home. He was a native of New York City and had resided in St. Augustine since 1999. He was a liberal arts professor and was unitarian.

Wilma Kincaid Vestal
Wilma Kincaid Vestal, 79, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 28, 2005, at Flagler Hospital. She was born in Meigs County, Tenn. Mrs. Vestal and her late husband, Hubert Joe, moved to St. Augustine in 1958 and opened Guns Motel in St Augustine Beach.

Wilma Kincaid Vestal
Wilma Kincaid Vestal, 79, of St. Augustine, died Jan. 28, 2005, at home. She was born in Meigs County, Tenn. Mrs. Vestal and her late husband, Hubert "Joe," moved to St. Augustine in 1958 and opened Guns Motel in St Augustine Beach.

John Herman Bauer
John Herman Bauer, 71 of St Augustine, died Jan. 29, 2005 at Moultrie Creek Nursing and Rehab Center. He was born in Miami and had resided in St. Augustine since 1964. He served in the U.S. Army. Mr. Bauer started the first 9-1-1 Emergency System for St. Johns County. He was a member of San Sebastian Catholic Church.

Brrr! A great time to enjoy a tale of summer warmth
The third book in the series of "The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants," titled "Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood" by Ann Brashares (Delacorte Press, $16.95), is such an enjoyable book about the summer of four longtime girlfriends that you have to wonder why the publishers released it in the dead of winter. Ahhh! But maybe that's the point. What better way to travel to hot fun in the summertime in January than by escaping through a literary voyage.

Iraqis' day of choice
WASHINGTON -- Iraqi citizens are set to vote in an election where they have real choices. Today's election is considered a key step toward having the Iraqi people create democracy for themselves. The United States invaded Iraq in March 2003 and brought an end to the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. When Saddam was in power, Iraqis voted for him because they were afraid not to.

PACE kids making a Splash!
Elementary students in the PACE (Program for Academic and Creative Endeavors) gifted program at The Webster School have begun work on a student-produced television show designed to give the students a fun, unique and collaborative learning experience.

What's with the weather?
It's looking like a crazy year for weather, and January isn't over yet. Already we've seen record rains in California, floods in the Midwest and snow in south Texas. Has Mother Nature gone bonkers?

Fair season for St. Johns County 4-H'ers
St. Johns County 4-H'ers have been outperforming the competition during this year's fair season and were determined to keep their streaks alive on their home turf during the St. Johns County Fair. The 4-H'ers did not disappoint, posting multiple wins in several competitions against teams from Clay, Duval, Flagler and other surrounding counties. Their next stop will be the state fair in Tampa in February.

Slumber party survival
WICHITA, Kan. -- When Rachael Osborne turned 13, she knew exactly how she wanted to celebrate: A slumber party with pizza, movies, games and eight of her closest friends.

Creative photography
Students in the Bartram Trail High School creative photography 1 class of Matthew Franke got a taste of negative sandwiching last semester.

Perspective: Hysteria in the ivory tower over gender differences
Harvard president Lawrence Summers has just gotten a lesson in the fierce retribution that comes with defying political correctness. Summers now knows that, in the academy, certain things cannot be said out loud, no matter how intriguing the scientific data or anecdotal evidence.

Letter: It is time to come home
Editor: The national discussion on Iraq has now entered a new phase. When are we going to pull out? This is a question that should not be decided by the American government in a unilateral way. We have the safety and the wishes of the Iraqi people to consider.

Letter: Law should have opposed extended alcohol hours
Editor: A tip of the hat to County Commissioners Karen Stern and Ben Rich for keeping there promise to vote against the petition allowing the bars in St. Johns County to stay open an extra hour during Super Bowl week.

Letter: Circuses a cruel life for animal 'stars'
Editor: It's circus time again; the time when traveling circuses and their captive wild animals "stars" hit the road. Using animals in circuses is an unnecessary and cruel practice that also threatens public safety.

Perspective: Question of women-math ability is just a red herring
At a recent meeting of social scientists exploring the dearth of women and minorities in the sciences, Harvard President Lawrence Summers posed the provocative question: Do biological differences equip fewer women than men with the necessary high-level mathematical skills to succeed in these fields? In response to swift and widespread criticism, he has since issued a formal apology. Unfortunately, the shadow of the doubt he raised persists.

Letter: Little League's too pricey
Editor: I have a question for the St. Augustine Little League. Why is the registration for T-ball so high? Our son went to register our 4-year-old grandson last weekend. He was informed the registration fee was $80; $70 if he volunteer to coach.

Perspective: Getting used to the Super Bowl 'buzz'
Super Bowl XXXIX is almost here. I wish the Atlanta Falcons or the Jacksonville Jaguars were suiting up for the big game Feb. 6 at Jacksonville's Alltel Stadium. The Falcons came so close and it would have been fun to cheer wide receiver Brian Finneran -- with family relations ties to St. Augustine.

Letter: Arbor Day disappointment
Editor: On behalf of the Garden Club of St. Augustine, thank you for very obligingly putting a quick notice in Friday's and Saturday's papers about our abrupt cancellation of the Arbor Day Tree Giveaway. Due to circumstances entirely beyond our control, we were unable to secure the trees.

Around the world
Read excerpts from editorials around the world on the weeks most-discussed topics.

Letter: There is no safe sex; abstinence is working
Editor: Abstinence has definitely worked in St. Johns County! We have had a 43 percent reduction in teen births to 15- to 17-year-olds over a six-year period. That is one of the best track records in the nation. We must not speak from emotions, instead, we need to speak from facts and research.

Commentary: McNabb sets tone for underdog Eagles
PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- Donovan McNabb arrived at the Super Bowl on Sunday night and immediately set the Eagles' agenda for the week. They're not running scared of the virtually unbeatable Patriots.

District Soccer Capsules
Menendez was dominant in the regular season, going undefeated in district play. The Falcons are a clear favorite with Nease in the unfamiliar role of underdog. St. Augustine has potential and will look to make some noise, but is probably a year away from seriously contending. Look for Menendez and Nease to lock up in the district final in a thrilling championship game.

No. 9 Oklahoma St. takes out Colorado
BOULDER, Colo. -- John Lucas scored 26 points and JamesOn Curry had 17 of his 22 in the second half to lead No. 9 Oklahoma State to a 104-86 victory over Colorado on Sunday.

Irwin takes two-stroke lead at Turtle Bay
KAHUKU, Hawaii -- Four-time defending champion Hale Irwin shot a bogey-free 6-under 66 Saturday to take a two-stroke lead over Allen Doyle after two rounds of the Turtle Bay Championship.

Shuttle fleet poised to resume flights
CAPE CANAVERAL -- Two years after Columbia's demise, excitement over the space shuttle fleet's return to the skies in just a few short months is finally overtaking the agony of the accident.

About 230 people on ship get sick
TAMPA (AP) -- About 230 people on a Holland America cruise ship came down with a gastrointestinal illness on a Caribbean voyage, forcing the trip to end early.

FPL's faulty electric meters focus of dispute
TALLAHASSEE -- A long battle over how much Florida Power & Light Co. should repay to some big business customers for higher electric bills caused by faulty meters is heading to state regulators in an arcane case about big bucks.

Privatization advocate quit before critical report
TAMPA (AP) -- Chris Card, one of the architects of Florida's child-welfare privatization program, stepped down days before the release of a state report questioning his handling of agency contracts and equipment and his acceptance of free tickets to sports events.

Parents, providers still puzzled by pre-kindergarten program
TALLAHASSEE -- The state wants parents and schools interested in participating in Florida's new universal pre-kindergarten program to start signing up for the program Tuesday, but it's unclear where they should go to sign up for classes starting in August.

Wrong man held in jail for 54 days on forgery charge
KISSIMMEE (AP) -- Hector Collazo complained to anyone who would listen that he was the victim of identify theft, but he sat in the Osceola County jail for 54 days by mistake on a Texas forgery warrant for a different man.

Jets, celebs, CEOs will pack county's airport
Drivers on U.S. 1 passing St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport a few days before Super Bowl XXXIX will notice more than 200 jumbo, corporate and private jets parked wing-to-wing on the tarmac.

California's Big Sur offers a simple beauty
GORDA, Calif. -- Once upon a time, a young couple purchased a hillside parcel on the southern Big Sur coast and dreamed of retiring there someday, turning an abandoned lumberyard into a family-run bed-and-breakfast.

Romantic Paris
PARIS -- How do you celebrate Valentine's Day in Paris -- an obvious romantic destination for courting lovers?

Travel briefs
PORT EVERGLADES (AP) -- The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has started screening those celebrating Mass on cruise ships, a plan geared toward preventing former, rental and even fraudulent priests from ministering to Catholic passengers.

Hopes dim for formal truce in Indonesia
BANDA ACEH, Indonesia -- Workers buried more tsunami victims in Aceh province Sunday as a premature end to cease-fire talks between the Indonesian government and separatist rebels dampened hopes for a quick resolution to a 30-year-old conflict in the devastated province.

Voters, Marines savor Saddam-free elections
ASKAN, Iraq -- In the "triangle of death," where voting is a life-threatening experience, Karfia Abbasi held up her ink-stained finger, elated that for the first time she has been able to cast a ballot for someone besides Saddam Hussein.

Bomb explodes in Spanish hotel
MADRID, Spain -- A bomb exploded Sunday in a Mediterranean resort hotel in southeast Spain after a telephone warning from the Basque separatist group ETA, injuring one person, the Interior Ministry said.

Changing sex in Iran
TEHRAN, Iran -- Whispering like conspirators, the two cousins hook their thumbs in their belt loops, skim cocky eyes over the women and swivel, stiff-legged from their hips, like the men they have become. Across the room, and a few steps away on the gender spectrum, a man with shaggy hair wrinkles a pug nose in the mirror and struggles to drape a silky scarf over his head in the style of Islamic womanhood.

World Forum report labels Iraq a beacon for Islamic militants
DAVOS, Switzerland -- The war in Iraq has become a homing beacon for Islamic militancy, threatening to destabilize neighboring countries and embolden terrorists to attack elsewhere, a senior RAND Corp. analyst told business and political elites at the World Economic Forum Saturday.

Sweden's oldest twins turn 100
STOCKHOLM, Sweden -- They have lived for 200 years between them, but Sweden's oldest twins had never seen anything like this before.